Jacobs Moor - All That Starts

Austrian band JACOBS MOOR started in 2010, and the only familiar musician in the mix to my eyes and ears is vocalist Richard Krenmaier – who used to be a part of the band STYGMA IV. “All That Starts” is their debut full-length album, straddling the lines of Power/Progressive Thrash Metal in a Modern manner. What this means for the listener is occasional forays into that down-tuned, semi-staccato like guitar attack, yet put in more of a Power framework as there are triplet and off-time measures put into place.

Where the band succeed in engagement for me is the flair for added Progressive nuances – something as simple as a little bass heroic lift during the instrumental section for “Unfound” or layered guitar play through “New Tomorrow” that moves beyond the expected aggressive riffs and vocals. The triplet and gallop factor brings up a lot of BRAINSTORM, IRON MAIDEN and ICED EARTH influence, but probably filtered through a Thrash parameter, especially in terms of the up tempo, double bass drumming from Rainer Lidauer. Lead breaks alternate between shred efforts and bluesy, more restrained picking- another feather in the band’s cap.

Alternately, a lot of the quick hitting stomp factor that you hear on “Jaded” or “Between the Lies” comes from a current MACHINE HEAD or LAMB OF GOD perspective, which also gives Richard a chance to alternate between clean parts that rival Eric A.K. or Russ Anderson and screams that are in the typical Modern Metal mold. One song that didn’t meet approval is “Faceless Man” – the obvious ‘hey’ background vocals and simplified groove just seem too obvious for a band with this much talent.

By the time the 8:27 closer “Final Sound” finishes- literally throwing every riff and tempo change in the JACOBS MOOR playbook at you – you get the feeling that this European group are already a few steps ahead of the pack. “All That Starts” isn’t your prototypical Thrash album – so those that need a little Power/Progressive aspect along with keeping certain parts of their sound current, this could be a sleeper hit in your collection.

Tracklist:

1. Moor2. Between the Lies3. Faceless Man4. Unfound5. The Truth6. All That Starts7. New Tomorrow8. Last Remaining…9. Jaded10. Final Sound